It's FC Barcelona vs Arsenal in UEFA Champions Quarter Final

FC Barcelona vs Arsenal Tie Could Be a delight for Neutrals

FC Barcelona has been drawn to face Arsenal in the Quarter Final stage of UEFA Champions League. FC Barcelona hold a slight advantage of playing their second leg at home. But as I wrote in the Preview to Quarter Final Draw, that advantage would amount to nothing against a team which plays the same way. Arsenal vs Barca will be a treat for the neutrals, but for the clubs this might have come a bit earlier.FC Barcelona has better players on a one on one comparision to Arsenal but we all know the likes of Fabregas, Nasri, Arshavin etc are capable of. The last time these two teams met was in the final of Champions League 2005-06 in Paris. Barcelona emerged victorious in that match, but Arsene Wenger could be out here to extract revenge. Henry who played for Arsenal in that final would be facing his team mates for the first time after he has left. Fabregas meanwhile will be pitted against his childhood club and Arshavin against his favourite team. The first leg of the Quarter Final will take place on 30th and 31st of March and the second leg a week after. I was just going through the previous records of Arsenal and defeating Arsenal is not a great Omen, as all teams has lost out in the next stage. May be that's just a coincidence.

FC Barcelona Gets Toughest Draw

The other Quarter final draws are

Lyon - Bordeaux

Bayern Munich - Manchester United

Arsenal - Barça

Inter Milan - CSKA Moscow

Arsenal's recent record against top teams this season is not that great. They have struggled against Manchester United and Chelsea, but they should find it comfortable against FC Barcelona as both play a similar style. Many have criticized Arsene Wenger trying to copy Barca completely and pointed out that it's the reason why they haven't won a silverware for sometime. May be this is a great time for him to prove him wrong. If we get past Arsenal we will have to play the winner of Inter vs CSKA match. There also the lady luck has shown on us - Winner of Arsenal vs Barca match will play their second leg at home.